Australia boosts investment in C-UAS capabilities

Aim Defence will receive AUD21.3 million to advance its Fractl portable high-energy laser system (pictured above). (Australian Department of Defence)

Australia has committed to invest up to AUD7 billion (USD5 billion) in counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UASs) for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) over the next 10 years.

The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) announced on 21 April that the funding aligns with Canberra's plan to invest more in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and C-UAS capabilities, aligning with the 2026 National Defence Strategy (NDS) and Integrated Investment Program (IIP).

Under the new initiative, Australia has awarded two initial contracts to local firms Aim Defence and Sypaq Systems to support the development of next-generation C-UAS platforms.

The contracts form part of AUD22 billion allocated for UAV, C-UAS, and autonomous system technologies in the 2026 IIP and are awarded through the Mission Syracuse initiative launched by Australia's Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), the DoD said. Mission Syracuse was launched in May 2025 to support the DoD's counter-small UAS capability.

Aim Defence

Aim Defence will receive an initial investment of AUD21.3 million to enhance the capability and combat readiness of the company's Fractl C-UAS laser system, the DoD said.

Director of Strategic Initiatives at Aim Defence Jenelle Frewen told Janes on 22 April that the ASCA investment would support Fractl's transition from low-rate production to a “robust, reliable, and integratable system”, capable of being mass manufactured for the ADF and key allies.

According to the DoD, Fractl is a portable high-energy laser system designed to counter individual and swarms of UAVs. It is capable of tracking objects “as small as a 10-cent piece at more than 100 km/h and powerful enough to burn through steel”, the DoD said.